Airport travel went from being a glamorous experience worth getting dressed up for to being an occasion to wear sweatpants in public and stand in long lines. With these parking apps and airport resources listed below, the airport no long has to be a source of anxiety or endless waiting.
We aren’t saying you have to ditch your sweatpants, but these resources do provide a way to ditch the stress of airports. Here are a few of our favorite apps and resources for everything from parking to avoiding long security lines.
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FlySmart
- What they do: FlySmart is like having your own personal airport concierge. Be alerted about flight status changes, check out airport restaurant and shop reviews, and see parking availability.
- Where to find it: Free app available on Apple products, Blackberry, and Android
- Insider’s tip: Rumor is that the app is selective about restaurant reviews and doesn’t alway share negative ones. Keep that in mind as you decide where to eat.
- What people are saying about it: “I’m a frequent flyer and happened to stumble upon this app (during a 9hr layover mind you). With not being familiar with this particular terminaI and it’s surroundings, was able to book a hotel room before everyone else and even snag a cup of my fav joe on the way out. Free shuttle here I come!”
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SpotHero
- What they do: SpotHero allows you to search off-airport parking options, compare prices, and easily reserve parking from your computer or phone. Also use SpotHero during your vacation, as they have parking options in major cities throughout the US.
- Where to find it: Free app available on Apple products and Android
- Insider’s tip: The parking app recently upgraded it’s system. You can now edit your reservation even after it’s booked. Flight home delayed? At least you won’t have to worry about your car.
- What people are saying about it: “Three words … Just the Best! Easy to use, great customer support if needed. Has saved my lots of money, time, stress!”
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GateGuru
- What they do: GateGuru provides all the information you need to know day-of your trip. Get real-time updates about your plane, weather forecasts, and airport restaurant and shopping guides.
- Where to find it: Free app available on Apple products, Android, and Windows products
- Insider’s tip: Their partnership with rental car company Avis gives users the option to reserve discounted car rentals from the app.
- What people are saying about it: “The gate information for the flight and updates plus the restaurant information made my travel much more relaxed. I used it for the first time recently and had no difficulty with the app.”
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About Airport Parking
- What they do: About Airport Parking is another airport parking reservation resource. What makes them great is their option to add additional services, like an oil change or a car wash.
- Where to find it: Search for parking via their website
- Insider’s tip: About Airport Parking works with Groupon to offer even more discounted prices.
- What people are saying about it: “These folks have well managed lots all over the country for airport and cruise parking.”
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LoungeBuddy
- What they do: LoungeBuddy is your go-to guide for airport lounges globally. See what lounges are available, get a virtual tour, and then book from the app.
- Where to find it: Free app available for iPhone and Android
- Insider’s tip: It can cost around $50 for day-long access to an airport lounge. You may want to save this app for when you’re stuck at the airport for a while, rather than just an hour or so.
- What people are saying about it: “The development team has outdone itself once again! The information in the app is incredibly helpful when I’m traveling through most any given airport, and I would recommend a download for frequent and casual travelers alike.”
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Airport Parking Reservations
- What they do: Airport Parking Reservations is another reservation website that allows you to compare off-airport parking options. Their app makes it easy to cancel your reservation or contact their customer service directly from your phone.
- Where to find it: Search for parking via their website or download the free iPhone app
- Insider’s tip: The reviews on their Facebook page are fairly mixed. Because they offer a lot of parking at hotels, there are facility factors Airport Parking Reservations can’t control. You may want to check out reviews for actual parking lots before committing to a reservation.
- What people are saying about it: “Just used these guys on a trip to California. They were friendly, efficient, and inexpensive. I’ll use them again in the future. (If you do use them, pay the little bit extra for valet service. It’s worth it.)”
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MiFlight
- What they do: Hate waiting in line? Check MiFlight before you get to the airport to see how long people are waiting at the security check points.
- Where to find it: Free app available on mobile phones
- Insider’s tip: Once you’re through security, enter the time you waited to alert others. This app thrives when everyone shares.
- What people are saying about it: “I always try to be on time for flights, but there’s been those times when I putter around at my gate for two hours thanks to the airport being completely empty. You’ll soon learn whether or not you need to get a move on or have that second cup of coffee with MiFlight at your fingertips. It’s one more thing that’s helped me remove one more ounce of uncertainty at the airport…”